TN Mu’l’livaaykkaal Remembrance meeting condemns Indian-West complicity in genocide

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 May 2013, 23:48 GMT]
Speakers at the Mu’l’livaaykkaal Remembrance meeting in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Friday came down strongly on the Indian and Western establishments for their complicity in the genocidal war on the Eezham Tamil nation. While veteran Tamil nationalist activist Pazha. Nedumaran condemned the holding of CHOGM in Sri Lanka, MDMK leader Vaiko criticized India’s contribution to the genocide of the Eezham Tamils from the IPKF days to the present. Periyarite leader Kolathur Mani spoke extensively about the structural genocide under unitary Sri Lanka. Criticising the complicity of the International Community of Establishments, Thirumurugan Gandhi from the May 17 Movement stated that the role of the US and India in the war on the Tamils must also be probed.

The event in Purasawakkam, Chennai was organized by the MDMK.

Mr. Nedumaran, condemning the decision to hold CHOGM at Sri Lanka, was of the opinion that India played a major role in ensuring that Sri Lanka was made the venue. Further, noting Britain’s historic role in laying the framework for the conflict in the island, he urged the British Prime Minister to reconsider his decision to visit Sri Lanka.

MDMK leader Vaiko, criticising India’s support to Sri Lanka, urged for the intensification for the campaign for a referendum among the Eezham Tamils.

Complementing him, Thirumurugan Gandhi from the May 17 Movement said that Tamil Eelam is a front for Tamils world over and that the Tamil Nadu people must consistently push the referendum campaign.

Condemning the role of India, US and the UN in the genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation, he further called for an international investigation in the role of the external powers in the internationally abetted genocidal war.

Furthering criticising the efforts of sections in the west to portray the conflict as a war crime of both sides, Mr. Gandhi questioned why such intellectuals, writers and organizations do not question the crimes of all sides.

diaspora should come forward: Gajendrakumar

TN responded, diaspora should come forward: Gajendrakumar urges addressing IC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 April 2013, 08:14 GMT]
“Just 25 miles away, across the sea, there are 70 million people in Tamil Nadu prepared to give their voice for our struggle […] At the same time, the Tamils living across the world who constitute the global Tamil Diaspora, should also come forward to strengthen this struggle by taking it forward in their countries, demonstrating their strength, as they voiced for us during the last phase of the war,” said TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam on Wednesday, urging the Tamils in the West and in Tamil Nadu to address the concerned States that allowed the genocide in war, to remind their responsibility when the process of genocide reaches its peak four years later. He was addressing people demonstrating against SL military seizing an entire region of their lands in Jaffna.

We went to the IC during the war and told them that it was genocide. But in reply we were told that the LTTE is terrorist and the SL State’s war can’t be stopped, but they had warned the State against bloodbath. What happened is known today, Gajendrakumar said.

Four years after the war, the genocidal process has reached to its peak, with the destruction of all the pillars of the identity of the Tamil nation. The official take-over of the fertile lands of Valikaamam North that also have access to the resourceful seabed, is one such act of structural genocide, the former TNA parliamentarian and the TNPF leader said.

If we simply look at it only as a land struggle of Valikaamam people, we are only abetting our own genocide. The only power we have to day is people’s power, he further said.

Translated excerpts from Wednesday’s speech of Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam in Tamil follows:

“We went to the international community while our people were being slaughtered in massive numbers during the last phase of the war. We explained to them sharply that what was taking place on the ground was a massive slaughter of genocidal character. Today it is [known as] a massive slaughter. But, after the conclusion of this war, they [the SL State] would target - one by one - all the pillars sustaining the identity of our nation. So, don’t expect that we will have a solution after the war, we told the IC. We pleaded with the IC to take constructive actions to stop the war and to pave a way for peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

“What the international community told us at that time was that the LTTE was a terrorist organization and that they cannot act to stop a legal government fighting them. However, the IC also told us that they had clearly conveyed their opinion to the Sri Lankan government that the Sri Lankan State and the Government of Sri Lanka would have to face serious consequences if there was a blood bath.”

“Today, four years after the war, the genocidal process, which comprises of the destruction of all the pillars of the existential identity of our nation, has reached its peak.”

“What we witness today in the official takeover of lands in Valikaamam North is one such act.”

“The Sri Lankan military seizure and occupation of lands in one of the most fertile areas of cultivation in the Jaffna peninsula and depriving the people of Valikaamam North accessing their resourceful sea-beds in the region, cannot be viewed as an isolated act affecting the people of Valikaamam North or as something that only affects their livelihood. It is a systematic and planned act of destruction targeting the economy of the Tamils as a whole. Therefore, the struggle being waged by the people of Valikaamam should be seen as a struggle to prevent the structural destruction of the entire nation of Tamils.”

“We will be giving the space to the Sri Lankan government if we continue to look at this struggle only as a struggle of Valikaamam people to get back to their lands. It will only be like abetting our own genocide.”

“It is said that political power stems from the armed power and people’s power. The only power we have today is the people’s power.”

“Just 25 miles away, across the sea, there are 70 million people in Tamil Nadu prepared to give their voice for our struggle.”

“We today witness that the uprooted people of Valikaamam North are fully prepared to continuously wage the struggle. We need to devise a platform [of a mass struggle] where not only the people of Valikaamam North, but all the other uprooted people are joining the struggle.”

“At the same time, the Tamils living across the world who constitute the global Tamil Diaspora, should also come forward to strengthen this struggle by taking it forward in their countries, demonstrating their strength, as they voiced for us during the last phase of the war.”

“Today, even after the end of war, the people are subjected to genocide.”

“This message should be taken up by the Tamil people living in the West and by the people of Tamil Nadu, passing the message sharply to the concerned States. Why? Because, those governments had also allowed [the SL State] to commit the genocide through the war. They could have acted earlier in stopping the war, but they didn’t. It was a cruel act. Since they failed to stop it at that time, again today, they have a responsibility in not failing to protect at least this time.”

Chronology:

25.04.13  TN responded, diaspora should come forward: Gajend..

25.04.13  People rise up against SL military seizure of Vali..

23.04.13  Geneva resolution responsible for genocidal milita..

23.04.13  6,400 acres of civilian land to be seized for mili..

22.04.13  Colombo begins legal appropriation of former HSZ l..

26.03.13  Colombo's land appropriation to be accelerated in ..

15.02.13  SL military operatives attack peaceful protest aga..

12.02.13  SL commander admits converting HSZ into permanent ..

11.02.13  SL military demolishes Hundreds of Tamil houses in..

08.02.13  Poonakari becomes another major hub of Sinhala mil..

03.02.13  Colombo converts Jaffna ‘HSZ’ into zone of Sinhala..

14.01.13  Sinhala military opens ‘holiday resorts’ in occupi..

30.07.12  SLA restricts access to temples, churches in Jaffn..

15.07.12  SLA appropriates more lands for militarisation of ..

14.07.12  SL military grabs more lands in Maathakal

TN upsurge transcending establishments inspires NZ Tamils

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 March 2013, 01:12 GMT]
In a demonstration held in Auckland in New Zealand on Wednesday, the demonstrators profusely thanked the students of Tamils Nadu for internationally highlighting the genocide issue of Eezham Tamils at a most wanted time and for taking the issue beyond the party politics of India in convincing the world that creation of Tamil Eelam is the only solution. “Our struggle begins here and a hard road is ahead,” said one of the speakers at the demonstration, participated by professionals, university students and even housewives. New Zealand Tamils were one of the first to openly caution the entire diaspora last month itself on the dangers portended by the ‘doing nothing’ approach of the USA towards the question of Eezham Tamils.

The way the New Zealand speakers identified the phase of struggle as something new now, indirectly implies the awakening of the diaspora about the ultimate forces that waged and continue to wage the real war against the cause of Eezham Tamils, why they wage the war and the futility of the line of struggle hitherto adopted by the articulating activists among the Eezham Tamil diaspora since May 2009 by looking upon the ultimate culprits themselves to deliver justice, commented alternative political activists in the island.

However, as thanking the Tamil Nadu students itself has been now adopted as a tactic by habitual hijackers articulating at the behest of the ultimate culprits who try to keep the Eezham Tamil polity gagged in their backyards, those in the diaspora who have now realised the realities should get the inspiration from the students of Tamil Nadu on how to wage the struggle beyond the influences of Washington and New Delhi too, as the students in Tamil Nadu have waged the struggle beyond party politics, the activists in the island further commented.

Speaking at the demonstration, Mr A Theva Rajan, coordinator of the Tamil Action Front of New Zealand said that the struggle ahead is long and is bound to be complicated. But the struggle will have to continue and it is in our hands – more so in the hands of the Tamil youth in the diaspora.

“What happened in May 2009 in Vanni is unalloyed Genocide. We are thankful to the students of Tamil Nadu for having isolated the Eezham Tamil issue from the politicians of India and made it a humanitarian issue pitted against structural genocide of the Sri Lankan Government. Our concern should be how the dictator Rajapakse can be prevented from completing the genocide. Our struggle begins here and is a hard road ahead,” said Mr Prem Kumar a Tamil activist addressing the gathering in Auckland on the eve of the final sessions of the Geneva summit.

Mr Gajalakshan, a Tamil youth activist addressing the Auckland demonstration in support of the Tamil cause being debated in Geneva said: “We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the students of Tamil Nadu for taking the genocide of Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka out of the Indian main stream politics and highlighting the gravity of the issue and for canvassing support for the one and only solution of the creation of Tamil Eelam.”

Another Tamil youth activist Mr Kumaran while we appreciating the support given by the students of Tamil Nadu in carrying forward and explaining the justification of the Eelam struggle to the people of Tamil Nadu and beyond, expressed his sadness over the instances of self immolation, requesting not to take such steps as such protests are not positive or constructive.

Youth activist Mr Pratheep said: “We are very happy that the Students of Tamil Nadu and even other States have realized the urgency and reason behind the Tamil demand for Tamil Eelam as the only way out for survival. We salute them for carrying forward the reason behind our struggle divorcing it from Party politics.

Mr Ashok, the Co-ordinator of New Zealand Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), calling for Tamils to be prepared for the struggle in the times to come, said that this is the beginning of a struggle that needs intensification to achieve the final goal, the establishment of Tamil Eelam.

Chronology:

22.03.13  Time to wage next stage of struggle

22.03.13  Australian Greens Senator criticizes support to em..

22.03.13  Genocidal double talk by India, US - Prof. Boyle

22.03.13  TN upsurge transcending establishments inspires NZ..

21.03.13  Diaspora youth join Tamil Nadu students in protest

21.03.13  Unprecedented demonstration in Tamil Nadu denounce..

21.03.13  Adopting draft resolution will violate Genocide Co..

20.03.13  German Left youth group conveys solidarity with Ta..

19.03.13  Confusion prevails among pro-Establishment lobbyis..

19.03.13  Karunanidhi pulls out from New Delhi Establishment

18.03.13  Jayalalithaa urging international investigation cu..

17.03.13  TN readies biers for US resolution, demands genoci..

16.03.13  Karunanidhi indicates quitting GOI if internationa..

16.03.13  US resolution burnt in front of US Embassy in Lond..

15.03.13  Gajendrakumar at UN calls for transitional adminis..

15.03.13  USA continues to harp on implementing Sri Lanka's ..

15.03.13  Colombo executing structural genocide, not reconci..

15.03.13  Tamil Nadu student upsurge gains momentum overcomi..

14.03.13  Kurdish leadership accuses imperialist powers for ..

14.03.13  UNHRC, CHOGM, Regime Change: people’s power has no..

14.03.13  Protest in Australia rejects LLRC-based US resolut..

13.03.13  Tamil Nadu students burn US draft resolution

11.03.13  Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify again..

11.03.13  Fasting Loyola students arrested by police, protes..

08.03.13  Chennai college students on indefinite hunger-stri..

07.03.13  Learn Lesson and Respond Concretely: ‘LLRC’ for Ta..

07.03.13  USA releases draft resolution for discussion in Ge..

07.03.13  ‘US resolution will not give Tamils justice’: Vaik..

07.03.13  Colombo reaches ‘understanding’ with USA, claims S..

26.02.13  UNHRC heads for structural genocide if Tamil natio..

25.02.13  NZ Tamils raise question on applying SA model to E..

20.02.13  NZ Tamils accuse Obama for doing nothing to check ..

20.02.13  Host CHOGM in New Zealand: Tamil Action Front

05.02.13  TESO urges New Delhi to move for referendum at Gen..

04.02.13  Tamils will lose land forever by failing to addres..

03.02.13  Canadian minister fails to address genocide, annih..

02.02.13  Vanni visit ‘pleases’ British Under Secretary

01.02.13  ‘Slap on the face reception’ to UK Under Secretary..

28.01.13  Visiting US team continues ‘counting trees’ in Jaf..

27.01.13  TESO misrepresents Tamil cause by harping on UNHRC..

25.01.13  Soul searching in India, Obama wipes out tears

06.11.12  UNHRC resolution has failed to exert pressure on C..

14.09.12  ‘UN approach counts trees, conceals sight of fores..

24.04.12  The court of international public opinion

30.03.12  Post-UNHRC needs show of Fourth World solidarity

28.03.12  Norway plays with words on investigation, sees fai..

27.03.12  Eezham Tamil youth in Canada challenge connivance ..

26.03.12  LLRC centered resolution, an albatross around Tami..

25.03.12  Indian ‘cooperation’ stalls OHCHR acting on UNHRC ..

25.03.12  India placates Sri Lanka, claims it had ‘balanced’..

24.03.12  ICG acknowledges crisis but turns out cock-eyed on..

23.03.12  TNPF cautions ‘first step’ myth of UN resolution

22.03.12  Watered-down resolution passes in UNHRC, stops sho..

21.03.12  US-led World Bank loans to Rajapaksa, fortifies Co..

21.03.12  China card misleads Indian public

20.03.12  Centre for Peace and Reconciliation attacked in Ja..

19.03.12  Jayalalithaa blasts New Delhi supporting US-bailou..

19.03.12  India inclined to vote in favour of US resolution:..

19.03.12  Begin next stage of struggle by burning Sri Lankan..

18.03.12  Tamil civil society warned US officials on LLRC da..

18.03.12  ‘LLRC hollow, India must use pressure to secure ju..

16.03.12  Eezham Tamils demonstrate outside US Embassy in Lo..

15.03.12  US resolution offers bailout to Rajapaksa: Brian S..

14.03.12  New Delhi’s ‘historical’ Lanka relations outweigh ..

14.03.12  Onus focuses on India

13.03.12  Boyle warns Tamil diaspora against "Stall and Dela..

12.03.12  LLRC will only legitimise Sinhala occupation of Ta..

12.03.12  Win TV discussion sets Tamil perspective straight ..

11.03.12  Without international investigation accused will b..

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..

TN readies biers for US resolution, demands genocide acceptance, interim set-up, referendum

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 March 2013, 23:19 GMT]

Declare genocide, announce international investigations on Sri Lanka, bring forth interim administration and conduct UN referendum to do justice to the question of Eezham Tamils, demanded thousands of protestors, who gathered at Marina Beach in Chennai in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Meanwhile, students of the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai (IIT), an internationally renowned all-India institute, came out in solidarity with the student upsurge, by observing a day-long fast. Despite the attempt of Tamil Nadu state to deter the upsurge by closing a section of government colleges, the student movement gained momentum during the weekend. In the struggle demanding justice, the students' movement prepares biers to take the US resolution to ‘cremation’ on Monday, news sources in Tamil Nadu said.

More than 5,000 people gathered at Marina Beach.

IIT students on fast

As only two days left to bring in any amendment to the empty resolution at the UNHRC, the students demanded India to acknowledge the Eezham Tamils' plight in the island of Sri Lanka as genocide and to call for a UN referendum at Geneva.

If the USA, UK and France could negotiate with China and Russia in unanimously passing a resolution at the UN Security Council against North Korean nuclear tests, why couldn't they do justice to Eezham Tamils who had lost more people in a genocidal war than what a nuclear bomb could cause, asked the student circles, addressing at those who argue in favour of the ‘helplessness’ of the USA opposed by China and Russia.

A poster calling for the burial of empty US resolution on Tuesday, by Tamil Nadu Youth Front (Thamizhaka I'laignar Munna'ni)

The USA, which was responsible for mobilizing 30 - 40 countries and inducting India into the genocidal war it architected against Eezham Tamils in the name of War Against Terrorism, is fully responsible to deliver justice now, they said.

Unless the global people's power is addressed to the most leading power in the world to course correct it, the other Establishments in the world, including India, could never be corrected, the Tamil Nadu student circles further said, citing those who take sides in passing the baby between New Delhi and Washington.

The student leaders on Sunday said they would besiege the residence of the Governor, representing the Government of India in Tamil Nadu. They also added that they would start besieging the residences and offices of the 40 MPs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry after 22 March, demanding their resignation, if there is no change in the attitude of New Delhi.

IIT students on rally

On Sunday, Tamil activists, students and IT professionals across the states of Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Maharastra also observed fasting campaigns and protests, displaying banners in other languages with the participation of their colleagues.

The IT student activists in Bengaluru said only an independent Tamil Eelam could save the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka.

A student leader, Ms Divya, representing the coordinating body of the students told media that the student movement was calling for 10 million-strong student community in Tamil Nadu to attend a State wide protest on 20 March.

The upsurge, started by the students, especially by the students of the Loyola College, is gradually evolving into a mass upsurge as organisations from all walks of life, from the cini field to the largest vegetable market of Asia in Koyembedu in Chennai joining the protest on 19 March.

Rally held by IIT students

The gathering at Marina Beach was attended by Mr Pazha Nedumaran, Mr Vaiko, activists from MDMK, CPI, Dravidar Viduthalaik Kazhakaram, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhakam, Social Democratic Party of India, Islamic Youth Against Ethnic Cleansing, Kaagnchi Makka'l Manram and Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhakam

Chronology:

17.03.13  TN readies biers for US resolution, demands genoci..

16.03.13  Karunanidhi indicates quitting GOI if internationa..

16.03.13  US resolution burnt in front of US Embassy in Lond..

15.03.13  Gajendrakumar at UN calls for transitional adminis..

15.03.13  USA continues to harp on implementing Sri Lanka's ..

15.03.13  Colombo executing structural genocide, not reconci..

15.03.13  Tamil Nadu student upsurge gains momentum overcomi..

14.03.13  Kurdish leadership accuses imperialist powers for ..

14.03.13  UNHRC, CHOGM, Regime Change: people’s power has no..

14.03.13  Protest in Australia rejects LLRC-based US resolut..

13.03.13  Tamil Nadu students burn US draft resolution

11.03.13  Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify again..

11.03.13  Fasting Loyola students arrested by police, protes..

08.03.13  Chennai college students on indefinite hunger-stri..

07.03.13  Learn Lesson and Respond Concretely: ‘LLRC’ for Ta..

07.03.13  USA releases draft resolution for discussion in Ge..

07.03.13  ‘US resolution will not give Tamils justice’: Vaik..

07.03.13  Colombo reaches ‘understanding’ with USA, claims S..

26.02.13  UNHRC heads for structural genocide if Tamil natio..

25.02.13  NZ Tamils raise question on applying SA model to E..

20.02.13  NZ Tamils accuse Obama for doing nothing to check ..

20.02.13  Host CHOGM in New Zealand: Tamil Action Front

05.02.13  TESO urges New Delhi to move for referendum at Gen..

04.02.13  Tamils will lose land forever by failing to addres..

03.02.13  Canadian minister fails to address genocide, annih..

02.02.13  Vanni visit ‘pleases’ British Under Secretary

01.02.13  ‘Slap on the face reception’ to UK Under Secretary..

28.01.13  Visiting US team continues ‘counting trees’ in Jaf..

27.01.13  TESO misrepresents Tamil cause by harping on UNHRC..

25.01.13  Soul searching in India, Obama wipes out tears

06.11.12  UNHRC resolution has failed to exert pressure on C..

14.09.12  ‘UN approach counts trees, conceals sight of fores..

24.04.12  The court of international public opinion

30.03.12  Post-UNHRC needs show of Fourth World solidarity

28.03.12  Norway plays with words on investigation, sees fai..

27.03.12  Eezham Tamil youth in Canada challenge connivance ..

26.03.12  LLRC centered resolution, an albatross around Tami..

25.03.12  Indian ‘cooperation’ stalls OHCHR acting on UNHRC ..

25.03.12  India placates Sri Lanka, claims it had ‘balanced’..

24.03.12  ICG acknowledges crisis but turns out cock-eyed on..

23.03.12  TNPF cautions ‘first step’ myth of UN resolution

22.03.12  Watered-down resolution passes in UNHRC, stops sho..

21.03.12  US-led World Bank loans to Rajapaksa, fortifies Co..

21.03.12  China card misleads Indian public

20.03.12  Centre for Peace and Reconciliation attacked in Ja..

19.03.12  Jayalalithaa blasts New Delhi supporting US-bailou..

19.03.12  India inclined to vote in favour of US resolution:..

19.03.12  Begin next stage of struggle by burning Sri Lankan..

18.03.12  Tamil civil society warned US officials on LLRC da..

18.03.12  ‘LLRC hollow, India must use pressure to secure ju..

16.03.12  Eezham Tamils demonstrate outside US Embassy in Lo..

15.03.12  US resolution offers bailout to Rajapaksa: Brian S..

14.03.12  New Delhi’s ‘historical’ Lanka relations outweigh ..

14.03.12  Onus focuses on India

13.03.12  Boyle warns Tamil diaspora against "Stall and Dela..

12.03.12  LLRC will only legitimise Sinhala occupation of Ta..

12.03.12  Win TV discussion sets Tamil perspective straight ..

11.03.12  Without international investigation accused will b..

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..

Tamil Nadu begins campaign for UN referendum on Tamil Eelam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 May 2012, 00:03 GMT]
Demanding the UN to conduct a referendum among Eezham Tamils to allow them to determine the political future of their homeland, Tamil Nadu based civil society group Youth Against War Crimes and Genocide (YAWCAG) started a campaign to collect one crore signatures to convey solidarity for the same, on Wednesday. The signature campaign which was inaugurated near the Gandhi statue at Marina beach involved participation of veteran political activists and civil society groups from Tamil Nadu. The organizers plan to take the campaign to other districts of Tamil Nadu soon. “It is necessary for the people of Tamil Nadu to pressurize the state and central government to recognize that the Eezham Tamils cannot live with dignity and peace under a unitary Sri Lankan state,” E. Ra. Thirumalai, one of the co-ordinators of YAWCAG, told TamilNet.

Stating out that reducing what happened to the Eezham Tamils to just human rights abuses makes it internal issue of Sri Lanka, Mr. Thirumalai said that the scale of the war waged by the GoSL on the people in the de facto state of Tamil Eelam was that of a war between two countries.

“After the genocidal war targeting the Eezham Tamils as such, now Sri Lanka is steadily erasing the Tamil homeland. It is of utmost importance now to highlight the need of a UN monitored referendum to allow the Eezham Tamils to determine their political aspirations,” he added.

The start of the signature campaign saw the participation of veteran political activist Pazha Nedumaran, Nallakannu of the CPI, Vaiko of the MDMK, M.H. Jawahirullah, the member of Legislative Assembly from the Manithaneaya Makka'l Kadchi, Vanniarasu from the VCK, Panrutti Velmurugan from the Tamzhaka Vaazhvurimaik Kadchi, among others.

The campaign saw the involvement of university and school students in large numbers.

Pamphlets highlighting the need for a state of Tamil Eelam were also distributed to the crowd.

Dr. N. Ezhilan and Mr. Thirumalai coordinated the event.

Chronology:

21.05.12  LJP President Paswan backs call for UN referendum

19.05.12  Demand UN-monitored referendum: Mahendran, Communi..

19.05.12  Tamil Nadu begins campaign for UN referendum on Ta..